Chapter 83: The Eighth Month of Winter

◎Master, you're incredible!◎

Once the lunar month of La entered, it marked the coldest period of the year. None of the family had anticipated such frigid temperatures in Shangyi Village. Women, in particular, were susceptible to the cold. Fortunately, the fur cloaks sent by Yu Lian's mother proved invaluable; the three women wore them constantly, causing much distress to Aunt Mei.

As she was merely a concubine of the Hua family, Yu Lian's mother would naturally have no knowledge of the household's other occupants and thus hadn't considered providing for concubines. Moreover, the custom of gifting did not extend to a concubine from one's in-laws, so Aunt Mei was left without a gift.

Aunt Mei shivered so much that she refused to leave the kitchen, where wood fires burned all day, making it the warmest spot in the house. She decided to stay hidden inside.

Fortunately, Yu Lian's earnings allowed her to generously provide her family with high-quality padded clothing. Aunt Mei and her three children even received extra thick coats, which filled her heart with gratitude. As a concubine, to be noticed and cared for by the head of the household, rather than being treated as invisible, was an immense blessing. She could hardly bear to recall the hardships of being a peasant concubine.

December was the busiest time for the entire Hua family.

As Yu Lian was occupied with earning money, the others in the family tried their best not to burden her with household chores. With the approach of winter and numerous festive occasions, such as the significant Laba Festival, followed by the New Year celebrations, this would be the Hua family's first major holiday since returning to their ancestral village, Yuxi. They were determined to make it a grand and uplifting event to dispel past gloom.

During the festivities, aside from family reunion, food was naturally the most important aspect. Not wanting these matters to trouble Yu Lian, Aunt Mei spared no effort to learn various culinary skills. She picked up signature dishes from one neighbor and hearty recipes from another, preparing to showcase her talents during the celebrations.

The three children, though young, sensed the fresh atmosphere at home. Though they didn't show it, they understood the stark contrast between their previous life in the city and their current rural existence. There were times when they had been fearful too. But now, with the family situation improving, their spirits lifted, and they became more focused and relaxed. They no longer misbehaved in their studies with the young scholar and instead put in extra effort. Even their martial arts training with Master Zhu Ying progressed well, and they demonstrated great enthusiasm.

On the eve of Laba Festival, Yu Lian rented a shop in the county to sell various canned goods produced by her family. The grand opening was scheduled for the day before Laba Festival, accompanied by lion and dragon dances, creating a lively atmosphere. The shop was named Immortal Delights Hua Store, with "Immortal Delights" derived from the legend of the canned food deity and "Hua" representing the Hua family – simple and straightforward.

The signboard was written by Young Master Hua Tianqu. Despite his frail appearance, his calligraphy was strong and vigorous, exuding an irresistible charm. As soon as it was hung up, the onlookers cheered in admiration!

Due to the grand opening festivities and a congratulatory gift of a gilded abacus sent by Madam Li, quite a crowd gathered to watch the spectacle.

Hua Sanduo first bowed to the assembled townsfolk, then clapped with a broad smile on his face. Following that, a row of four or five apprentices, dressed in outfits bearing the words "Immortal Delights Hua Store," stepped forward. Each of them carried several elegantly designed gift boxes.

These square gift boxes were made of wood but wrapped in cotton fabric, adorned with intricate embroidery. In the top right corner, the words "Immortal Delights Hua Store" were sewn, along with a brand logo – a pure white lotus. The colors and embroidery patterns on the boxes varied; some were red with embroidered mandarin ducks or longevity symbols, others pink with peaches or pear blossoms, blue with carp, and even higher-end versions made of silk with matching spoons and handkerchiefs included – these were premium gift boxes.

Each apprentice showcased a different tier of gift boxes, parading them around before placing them on empty shelves.

Then, Hua Sanduo took each can one by one to introduce them.

Although he was not skilled in farming nor diligent, he proved to be quite adaptable in business and interacting with people. He vividly recounted the story behind the Immortal Delights cans, captivating his audience. Upon finishing his tale, the crowd erupted in applause.

He chuckled and said, "Our proprietor mentioned that the story is just a tale. Please don't take it too seriously. If you're unwell, consult a doctor; if you have grievances, seek the authorities. Immortal Delights are simply meant for enjoyment."

This prompted laughter all around.

He continued, "But this Immortal Delicacy jar is sweet to the taste, doesn't it bring a sweetness to your hearts as well? With a good mood, everything in life will fall into place, from health to harmony in all aspects. You won't be at a loss or cheated. Even if you don't give them away, keeping them at home for those times when you need a lift, when you're ill, or when you're happy - doubling your joy, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The crowd laughed even louder, some clapping their hands heartily, slapping loudly, "You're quite the businessman, aren't you? Hearing you talk like that, I can't not buy today."

The steward from the Li residence called out, "Two boxes of each variety, and ten boxes of the top-grade selection!"

In his mind, the steward recalled how, before he left, Lady Li had instructed him to not only deliver the gifts but also to seize the opportunity to promote the merchant's business. Was it solely due to the expensive rouge box, or did Lady Li have another strategy in mind?

Thinking of how Lady Li had been so enamored with that rouge box these past days, women truly were women, easily swayed by cosmetics. If it had been Master, would he have paid such attention to a small vendor like this?

Not even a glimpse can be caught!

With the butler of the Li Estate's grand opening offer, a moment of hush fell upon the surrounding crowd. Immediately after, numerous voices eagerly raised, "I'll take one box. I want the box adorned with blooming peaches."

"Present me with a Thousand-Tree, Myriads-of-Pear-Blossoms gift box!"

"I desire the 'Swans in Amorous Play' scene!"

"I desire two boxes of the Hundred-Year-Longevity Chests!"

Amidst the anticipation, Hua Sanduo beamed and announced, "My esteemed patrons, there's no need to rush. In celebration of our grand opening, our esteemed proprietor has a gift for you. For those who purchase two boxes or more, you'll receive a complimentary side dish canned in premium jars. High-end gift boxes will come with canned meat, while the standard ones will include vegetarian canned delicacies. The more you buy, the more you get. We have a limited supply of five hundred cans as gifts, so it's first come, first served!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than those who had just asked for one box immediately changed their request to two. Some sought to fulfill their order with varying colored and quality gift boxes; such an arrangement was also acceptable. Hua Sanduo thus made a decision based on the total cost: for orders exceeding eight hundred wen, he would include a canned meat product as a bonus.

For example, the most affordable option is a gift box priced at three hundred wen, followed by one priced at five hundred wen, making a combined total of eight hundred wen - this set can also be gifted. The most expensive one is an exquisite gift box wrapped in silk, costing a substantial one tael and eight hundred eighty-eight wen. Its luxurious and festive packaging makes it sell faster than the others. The reason behind this is that under the influence of the Li household, the wealthy patrons have promptly purchased all twenty boxes available in the store.

In addition to these, the shop has even introduced canned Laba Porridge! While Laba Porridge is a dish that every household prepares, canned Laba Porridge is something unheard of! The Laba Festival is just around the corner, and who wouldn't want to keep up with the trend and offer a gift bearing good auspices?

As a result, the newly launched Laba Porridge canned food sold just as well as the fruit cans, with festive embroidery of New Year's paintings of children on the packaging, adding an extra touch of joy to it.

Hua Sanduo counted the silver coins until his fingers ached, his eyes crinkling with joy. He had already worshiped Miss Lian as a goddess in his heart – she was truly divine! She had managed to earn so much silver without any initial investment, from creating these peculiar canned delicacies to advertising and selling them. Every step unfolded exactly as she had predicted. As her executor of innovative ideas, Hua Sanduo knew firsthand that each stage was meticulously designed by Miss Lian's brilliant mind. The more extraordinary the idea, the better the outcome!

This only strengthened his resolve to follow Miss Lian's lead! He even believed that Miss Lian was born to be a merchant, and it was a great loss for her to have been born as a wealthy lady!

Zhu Ying stood guard inside the shop, clutching a sword. With Madam Li's support and the young mistress's prominent appearance and special status, it was inconvenient for her to be seen. Thus, Hua Sanduo took charge of the business operations, while Zhu Ying acted as a protector, ensuring no troublemakers disturbed the scene.

Fortunately, due to Madam Li's support, no one dared to cause trouble. Everyone was merely observing from the sidelines. Amidst the bustling sales, passersby were drawn to the commotion, swelling the crowd. Hearing that the Immortal Food Cans could be perfect gifts for festive occasions, people scrambled to pull out their silver, fearing they might miss the opportunity if they waited too long.

It was an annual celebration, so even if it was a bit pricier, it was worth it for the prestige!

The flow of people never ceased, and as the money rolled in, the store's inventory dwindled, prompting the clerks to continually replenish from the storeroom in the back.

Zhu Ying maintained a stoic bodyguard-like expression, but inwardly, she was elated. It felt like the silver was pouring into Young Lady's purse, and Young Lady was truly formidable!

Before long, Young Lady might even become richer than her master. Wouldn't that make the master feel ashamed? Haha.

Hua Sanduo was swamped with work every day, too exhausted to move. It wasn't until the night before the Laba Festival that he finally closed the shop and returned to the village, bypassing his own home to first join Zhu Ying in visiting the Huas to deliver the good news.

Yu Lian, on the other hand, remained calm and unconcerned about the business outside. Entrusting everything to the combined efforts of Hua Sanduo and Zhu Ying, she stayed at home contentedly, preparing festive delicacies alongside her family for the Laba Festival.

As the old saying goes, after the Laba Festival comes the new year. For ordinary folk, the significance of the Laba Festival rivaled that of New Year's Day. It was a reward for their hard work throughout the past year. It felt as though the year was only complete after Laba, and on this day, they would sit together, enjoying Laba Festival dishes, reminiscing about the past. It made their lives seem more meaningful, and the hardships of the previous year seemed to be swallowed along with the Laba porridge, turning into sweet fruits.

This was especially true for Shangyi Village, a traditional and large family-oriented settlement.

It was only now that Yu Lian's family learned of the many customs surrounding holidays in Shangyi Village. As they adapted to local traditions and revived ancestral practices, they happily embraced their new identity within the community.

In the village, there was a custom of exchanging Laba porridge or Laba fruits. The ingredients for both were similar, but the preparation methods differed. Laba porridge was a delicious and sweet vegetarian soup made by boiling a mixture of rice, osmanthus, lotus seeds, peanuts, red beans, green beans, and various grains. The fruits, on the other hand, involved steaming these ingredients, adding sugar, grinding them, and mixing them with flour. Then, they were fried in ample oil to create Laba fruits. This method was more popular among children, who found the oily and sugary treats more appealing than the porridge. Who wouldn't love them?

Some clever wives would encase the sweet and glutinous Eight-Trifles filling within white dough, frying them into Eight-Trifles Pancakes. A single bite would reveal the delectable filling, known as Open-Mouthed Eight-Trifles, symbolizing the ingestion of the previous year's abundance, hoping for an even better new year.

Lady Mei prepared each variation. In her view, since her family had fallen from grace and now lived in the countryside, they couldn't afford to skimp on festive foods, or it would be a great loss.

Thus, she made Eight-Trifles Porridge, two styles of Eight-Trifles Pancakes, and even invented Eight-Trifles Dumplings to add to the Eight-Trifles Noodles, turning the tradition into a culinary spectacle.

After completing the array of Eight-Trifles feast in the kitchen, Lady Mei packed each dish into food boxes. She then assigned two boxes to each of her three children, instructing them to visit their neighbors in the village, greeting them with "Happy Eight-Trifles Day" and exchanging their Eight-Trifles Porridge or Pancakes.

The children left cheerfully with their food boxes, visiting households like Uncle Two's that were close to their hearts. Upon returning, their boxes were still brimming with exchanged delicacies, and each child even had a copper coin in their pocket, a gift from Uncle Two.

Aside from the family-sized Laba Porridge, they had to prepare a variety of substantial dishes, for Upper Village had the custom of holding a Laba Sacrifice on this day, honoring their ancestors, the heavens, and the five domestic deities.

Each household was expected to prepare at least five offerings for the ceremony, which would then be brought back home for consumption after the ritual.

In previous years, when Upper Village was impoverished, people would contribute whatever they could, often substituting rough bread for more elaborate offerings. But with Yu Lian's family moving in, their efforts in reclaiming land, constructing houses, and establishing workshops had generated significant income for the villagers, benefiting almost every household. Even those unable to engage in physical labor for house building could work in the workshops, preserving canned goods for others. Thus, Yu Lian fulfilled her promise that everyone would have a share, and there was no need to worry about not being selected.

With tangible income, the festive season became more enjoyable. Combined with a bountiful harvest due to favorable weather conditions, each household put in great effort to prepare delightful treats.

When Hua Sanduo and Zhu Ying returned, their three children had already exchanged Laba Porridge with their neighbors. Upon hearing about the delicious and abundant food at Yu Lian's, some villagers even made special trips to exchange their own. The house was bustling with visitors coming and going.

The family was busy preparing offerings.

Hua Sanduo entered with a beaming smile, unable to contain his excitement as he blurted out, "Host, Host, you're incredible! We've struck it rich!"

The villagers who had dropped by to exchange their Laba porridge paused in their steps. Fortunately, they were all perceptive. No matter how curious they were, they knew it was not appropriate to eavesdrop on private business matters, so they quickly withdrew.

Hua Sanduo, caught up in the moment, hadn't realized there were so many people in the courtyard. He waited for them to leave before returning to the main room with the host's family, shutting the door behind them.

Gently patting Zhu Ying's hand, he said, "Hurry and take it out."